UFC on FOX 2 results: Swanson shellacks Roop in standup-heavy affair

Fourteen months after the WEC shuttered its doors, the oft-injured and sometimes snakebit Swanson delivered a crushing knockout of “The Ultimate Fighter 8″ cast member George Roop at UFC on FOX 2.

The bout, which became a bit of grudge match following some pre-fight trash talk, served as the fourth of six preliminary card contests to air on FUEL TV from Chicago’s United Center.

Swanson struggled in the early going, finding it difficult to navigate the massive reach advantage of his foe, who was using crisp front kicks to help keep his opponent at bay. A wheel kick then missed but allowed Swanson a chance to follow with a leaping overhand shot that did land and appeared to stun Roop.

Roop quickly recovered and returned fire, but Swanson scored a takedown to punctuate the round and claim full momentum.

The firefight continued in the second round, and Roop found some early success with knees up the middle. Still, Swanson used his quickness to move inside, working through Roop’s reach and scoring points along the way.

Swanson then unleashed a vicious right hand to the chin that sent Roop’s mouthpiece careening off the cage and his body folding on the floor. Referee “Big” John McCarthy gave Roop every chance to recover, but Swanson, who looked like he thought he’d scored a walk-off shot, pounced on the floor and delivered a dozen more shots before the merciful (and perhaps a tad tardy) stop at the 2:22 mark of the frame.

Swanson (16-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) evens his UFC mark.

“I knew I had to be patient and feel him out,” Swanson said. “He’s a lanky guy who can catch you if you’re not ready. That shot just connected and rocked him and put him on his back. I wanted to make sure that I had finished it because it all happened so fast.

“I’m going to take about two weeks off and see how I feel. I might be looking to get back in here pretty quickly after a win like this.”

With the loss, Roop (12-9-1 MMA, 2-5 UFC) has now dropped two-straight matchups for the first time since 2007.

“We had some pretty good action when the match started, and I was using my range to gain the advantage,” Roop said. “I’m really not sure what happened because it really just happened too fast. He hit me with something that I didn’t see coming at all. He followed up on it and did what he had to do.”

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.